At the Ramlila With Baba Ramdev

As you enter Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan—the site of Baba Ramdev’s indefinite hunger strike– from its front gate, a giant billboard with a portrait of the swami greets you.

Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images

Baba Ramdev speaks to his supporters during his ‘fast unto death’ in New Delhi on June 4, 2011.

It reads: “It’s enough. I don’t have to listen to the ministers’ hogwash.”

That captured the mood of the Day One of the closely-watched hunger strike of Baba Ramdev, who has thousands of people across the country supporting his campaign against the “black money” – untaxed money stashed abroad—and corruption.

At 5 a.m. Saturday, Baba Ramdev began his fast with about 100,000 men, women and children who had arrived overnight, according to Sanjay Joshi of Bharat Swabhiman Trust (Indian Self-Pride Trust) which Baba Ramdev heads.

With a day of sweltering 40C heat, some of those fasting were sleeping in colorful tents with fans whirring above them. Some were gulping water mixed with glucose and lemon.

“This is all we have been having since morning,” said Mukesh, who goes by only one name, a participant in the fast from Delhi. “If we have to abolish corruption from the country, then this all should be done,” he said.

In the background, patriotic Hindi songs blared from huge loudspeakers. Baba Ramdev was on a stage most of the day except for a few hours. When he appeared on stage around 5:30 p.m., those sleeping woke up and the whole ambience became animated. The yoga guru appeared in confrontational mood at the beginning in what was his second appearance of the day. He said those raising skepticism over his strike and saying that he has tried to ignite communal discord “should be mentally treated.”

His salvo appeared aimed at a Congress party spokesman and other Congress leaders who were on Indian television channels on Saturday saying the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological head, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteer Organization), were “remote-controlling” Baba Ramdev’s campaign.

Earlier in the day, Congress party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi also raised questions on the financing of the arrangements around the fast.

“Where did five-star facilities come from?” Baba Ramdev asked this question to his audience and said the money came from his supporters. “People are ready to give up lives let alone the money,” he said. “I won’t attack first but if somebody attacks I will give full response.”

Baba Ramdev said there were agreements with the government on most of the issues separating them except for the passage of a law to nationalize black money and the adoption of the ways and means needed to bring such money back.

He said he wanted a law to nationalize the black money but the government only offered to form a committee.

The yoga guru said he was ready to congratulate the prime minister and give him the credit if he makes a formal announcement that such a law will be proposed.

“If 1.2 billion people are wanting it why can’t the prime minister do it?” he said.

Baba Ramdev went offstage for sometime and as he came back he said he had good news to share with his supporters. He said he had just talked to a government minister over the phone. “The government has accepted our demands to do physical and technical investigation of the money flowing outside of the country,” he said. “If it gives us in writing that it has accepted all our demands then we are ready to break the fast instantly.”

Immediately after Baba’s announcement, Kapil Sibal, one of the two government ministers who held five-hour talks with Baba Ramdev on Friday, held a press conference at the government’s press headquarters.

“There is no problem declaring the black money the national asset,” Mr. Sibal said. “We are making committee to make the law. It takes time to make law.”

He said it has been agreed in writing that there will be “meditation” and no hunger strike and that Baba Ramdev will declare the strike off by June 6.

He pointed to a letter signed by an associate of Baba Ramdev. He then flashed a sign of a more-aggressive government stance: ” The government has always reached out but we can also reign in. We can be accommodative but we can also be firm.”

Back at the Ramlila Maidan, Baba Ramdev then appeared in defensive mode. He cried foul and said the fast will continue indefinitely. He said there was an agreement not to make the letter public and that Mr.Sibal was telling “lies.”

“We are not here to take the letter,” he said. “There has been a treachery. “

When asked whether he will be talking to government interlocutors on the phone or in person, Baba Ramdev said “No,” adding: “I didn’t know there is so much deceit in politics.”

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